Acorn steals the show

[slayers_desire]

It was 3 p.m., the middle of the evening. The city was quiet. April was fast asleep in her bed. Her husband, Clark, was at her side, sleeping just as peacefully.

There was a slight movement from April, adjusting as the baby kicked in the middle of the night. The soft touch of her voices entered her dreams... ready to prepare her for a very big event.

In her dreams, April was having a picnic lunch with her husband. There was a soft jingle of chimes from the oak tree that they sat under, as a soft wind blew across the field. Looking over her shoulder, April could see people approaching them.

First Martha, who came over to kiss her cheek, and who told her to rely on her strength. Then it was Spike, who came over to hold her hand, and told her to be brave. And not to fear the hunger that she may feel. That it was okay.

A slight pain rippled through April, soft and warning.

Still in the dreams, April and Clark was approached by more loved ones. She saw the face of Jor-El, and his wife Lara-El, who told her how proud they were of her. That they wished they could hold their grandchild. That they knew their legacy would be protected. Then it was Jonathan, who softly touched her shoulder, and spoke of the harvest that was to come. And how beautiful it would be. How he was proud of her too

Five minutes later, another pain rippled through April, this time causing enough discomfort to awaken her from her sleep. She sat up sharply... sitting there for a moment. April had a few Braxton Hicks contractions before, but something told her that this was not the case tonight.

She reached over and gently touched Clark. "Sweetie... wake up... the baby is coming."

Comments

[slayers_desire]

"What if he doesn't come... who would handle this for us?" April is trying hard not to panic right now. But another contraction doesn't make things easier.

((me too. LOL. I am waiting for good news myself))

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"There are doctors here who can deliver your baby," Emil tells her, with determination. "Even if we have to call in John Jones to... fuzz up their memories a bit."

"You mean erase them," Clark says, but there's more of a questioning tone in his voice than an accusing one. He gives April's hand another squeeze, letting her hold onto him as tightly as she needs.

"No, just perhaps not notice any... irregularities with you two. You three," he corrects himself.


((yaaaaaay))

[slayers_desire]

"Mind tampering?" That makes April even more uncomfortable. And the pain sharpens slightly for a moment.

It is likely a good thing her husband can't feel pain, since her grip on his hand is very tight right now.

"I really hope we can avoid that."

((cheer echoed over here too))

[smallvillians]

There's the sound of footsteps approaching, and Clark is somewhat relieved to recognize his mother's step. "Wait out here," Martha says to her security detail, and they take up positions near the doors, leaving the family inside to their privacy.

[slayers_desire]

"Hey Martha..." April manages a weak smile for her mother-in-law.

[kalel_ofkrypton]

"Hi, sweetie. I'm so proud of you." She can't give her daughter-in-law a hug right now, but she leans down to kiss her on the forehead. "You're going to be just fine."

On the other side of the bed, Clark is getting out his phone again. "Mom, can you stay with her? I need to call the doctor who's been taking care of us. There's a... complication he might need to address."

Martha frowns in concern, but nods. "Of course."

[slayers_desire]

Adjusting slightly on the bed, April reaches over for a glass of water on the bedside table. She can sense Martha's concern.

"The baby is a breach birth." She explains.

[smallvillians]

"Are you going to need a Caesarean?" Martha asks, full of sympathy and well wishes for her and the baby.

((Have you contacted Victor-mun about threewaying with House or should I?))

[slayers_desire]

"Yes. I am." And that still makes April feel a little upset.

((you go for it. I forgot. LOL))

[smallvillians]

"Oh, sweetie." Martha puts her hand on April's. "I know you had your heart set on a natural birth." She would have too, had her only pregnancy made it to term.

((message sent, may have to wait to hear back))

[slayers_desire]

"I feel like..." April can't put her feelings into words. But there is a little sense of failure there.

"Like I am putting Clark through the wringer."

[smallvillians]

"It's not your fault that it turned out this way," Martha says, getting right to the heart of the problem with a mother's instinct. "Complications happen. And Clark will be happy to have the both of you safe and sound when this is all over."

[slayers_desire]

"He is so worried right now. I wish I had someway he could help." But this is a medical situation. Something she doesn't even know how to deal with.

[smallvillians]

Martha smiles at her. "I'm sure all expectant fathers do. But his job is to stay at your side and support you while you do the work."

[slayers_desire]

April watches her grib on Martha's hand as she deals with another contraction. "This is such a new experience. I don't know what to expect."

[smallvillians]

Martha hasn't been through this either, to her eternal regret. But she has a wonderful son, and daughter-in-law, and soon a grandchild. "Trust the doctors. They know what to do, and they'll take great care of you."

((heard back from Victor-mun, we'll try to get to a good stopping point tonight so House can enter the thread when the mun's available))

[slayers_desire]

"I just hope that our doctor can come. It makes me uncomfortable thinking someone... unfamiliar with our history... would do this."

[smallvillians]

"Because of your cravings?" Clark had mentioned to her that April was needing more blood than usual. He didn't tell her about visiting Sophie during her twins' birth, but he did imply to her that the cravings might get very powerful during labor.

[slayers_desire]

"Yes. With a C-Section, I will need more... blood than normal."

[smallvillians]

"There will be a way. But you let us worry about this. All you have to focus on right now is bringing your wonderful child into the world."

[slayers_desire]

"Right now... I just feel hot. And sore..." April adjusts again.

[kalel_ofkrypton]

Clark comes back in, taking his seat next to her bed again. He overheard her last comment, and is already making a conscious effort to drop the temperature in the room by a degree or two by chilling his breath, hoping to make her more comfortable. "I got ahold of him."

[slayers_desire]

It is nice having her own personal air-conditioner. She is still sweating, but she doesn't feel so hot anymore.

"And?"

[kalel_ofkrypton]

House is never the most straightforward or pleasant person to talk to, but if there's one thing that Clark has learned over the months of meeting with the man, it's that he has certain buttons you can push. And getting to do a C-section for a vampire-alien baby is a unique enough experience that Clark was sure it would get his attention. "He'll be here. I don't know how long it'll take, but he'll be here."

[slayers_desire]

"I guess I just deal with the contractions until then." It won't matter how diated she gets, since the birth has to be a C-section.